Photo: AAG
Aero Technology Industry Company Limited (ATIL), a joint venture partly owned by Thailand's Defence Technology Institute (DTI), recently demonstrated its domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai during a visit to the...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
Aero Technology Industry Company Limited (ATIL), a joint venture partly owned by Thailand's Defence Technology Institute (DTI), recently demonstrated its domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai during a visit to the company’s facility at Saengtawan Airport.
The demonstration featured two UAVs: the DP18A Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) and the DP9A tandem-rotor Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV. Both platforms showcased a range of non-military capabilities, including a dry ice dispensing system for reducing airborne dust, a desiccant-based flare pod for artificial rainmaking, and a fire-extinguishing chemical payload.
The event highlighted the DP18A’s multipurpose role, including operations in air pollution mitigation and disaster relief. The UAV is locally manufactured with contributions from Thai engineers and is capable of high-altitude, long-duration flight with a significant payload capacity. According to the company, its narrow turning radius and precision flight control system allow for flexible use in both high-altitude operations and challenging environments.
In addition to environmental applications, the DP18A can be configured for military use, including surveillance and strike missions. A live demonstration also showed the UAV deploying a chemical fire retardant, simulating response in areas inaccessible to conventional firefighting teams.
The DP9A UAV, which made its first public appearance at the RTAF88 air show in March, was also demonstrated. The aircraft weighs 520 kg, has a payload capacity of up to 250 kg, and can fly for up to three hours with a 200 kg load. It can reach speeds of 170 km/h and altitudes of up to 6,000 metres, with an operational range of 100 km. It is equipped with thermal imaging systems for use in forest firefighting, patient evacuation, and other emergency response scenarios.
During the visit, Minister Phumtham received a technical briefing from ATIL and DTI executives, including General Bamrung Saithong, Mr. Pasit Jitcharoen, Air Chief Marshal Dr. Preecha Pradubmuk (CEO), and DTI Director General Dr. Charat Umsamrit.
ATIL, established under Thailand’s 2019 Defence Technology Act, is a joint venture between DTI, Thailand’s PYN International, and Beihang UAS Technology, a Chinese company now under NORINCO. The company’s work aligns with the Thai government's “S-Curve 11” policy, aimed at strengthening domestic defence production and reducing reliance on imports.
The demonstration served to underscore the growing role of local private-sector innovation in Thailand’s broader national security and disaster response infrastructure.
Indonesia’s second Airbus A400M military transport aircraft has successfully completed its maiden flight at Airbus’ San Pablo facility in Seville,…
3TOP Aviation Services (3TOP) has acquired two more Pratt and Whitney 4170 Engines bearing serial numbers P735048 and P735049. The…
GBP Aerospace & Defence is the official media partner for the upcoming Singapore Airshow 2026 that will take place from…
EVIO has launched the EVIO 810 hybrid-electric regional aircraft, having secured conditional purchase agreements and options for 450 aircraft, The…
Falko has completed its inaugural Japanese operating lease (JOL) transaction, involving the sale of one (1) CRJ900 aircraft to a…
The drive towards achieving digital sovereignty in the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector across the Asia Pacific has received…
A significant military escalation on the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border has brought into sharp focus the security challenges and the illicit…
The international aerospace and defence community is assessing the strategic shift in aerial combat following the successful maiden flight of…
The United States and Philippine navies conducted a bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity within the country’s territorial waters, demonstrating their commitment…
NASA and Boeing teams at the Kennedy Space Center have begun the final sequence of checks and close-outs on the…
In a significant move for South Asian air power dynamics, the United States State Department has approved a Foreign Military…
The flare-up of hostilities along the Thai-Cambodian border earlier this week has provided military analysts with the first high-intensity operational…
In a move that significantly alters the strategic calculus of the Central Pacific, the People's Republic of China is reportedly…
Leonardo, the Italian aerospace and defense firm, reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines' long-term capability development and modernization goals. In…
The U.S. Navy recovered the two aircraft that crashed into the South China Sea earlier this year while operating off…
Airbus Defence and Space has entered into a new collaboration with global chocolate producer Barry Callebaut to provide satellite-based monitoring…
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has selected Thales to strengthen air traffic surveillance in the southern Johor Bahru…
In a significant statement to the Dewan Negara, Malaysia’s Senate, the nation’s Defence Ministry has outlined a comprehensive and long-term…
Rotron Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with LIG Nex1 to collaborate on the development and integration of unmanned…
MAAS Aviation has extended its multi-year aircraft painting agreement with easyJet, continuing a partnership that began with a new programme…
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have carried out an air-to-air autonomous weapon engagement using an MQ-28 Collaborative…
Less than ten days after the official launch of Leonardo’s Michelangelo Security Dome, the advanced integrated defence system, the company…
The Australian government will allocate A$18 million (₱699.7 million) for civil maritime investment in the Philippines starting next year.According to…
In a striking demonstration of strategic agility and financial robustness, Vietjet Aviation JSC has achieved an unprecedented milestone within the…
In a move that highlights the increasingly global nature of defence supply chains, a United Kingdom-based subsidiary of Raytheon has…
The United States State Department has approved a significant Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Bahrain, authorising a sustainment…
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is set to significantly expand its inventory of precision-guided munitions following the United…
The tenuous peace along the Dangrek Mountains has been shattered this week, marking the most significant escalation in the Thai-Cambodia…
The already volatile security environment in the Asia-Pacific region has witnessed a serious escalation following claims by Tokyo that a…
Semi Conductor Devices (SCD), a defence technology company specialising in cooled and uncooled infrared detectors, has received a strategic contract…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.